The Solutions Focus draws on the work of Steve de Shazer in Brief Family Therapy at the Mental Research Centre where the three principles of change were identified as:
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
When you know what works, do more of it
Stop doing what doesn’t work, and do something else
Learn more about the approach below. It is designed to find out what works well for you as an individual (inside-out) defined in simple terms.
There are no deep theories. The emphasis is on small interventions that can move you towards your desired solution or to a higher level of consciousness (top-down).
This appraoch was heavily influenced by Gregory Bateson using systems thinking. As well as the linguistic patterns used in neuro-linguistic programming made famous by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. They in turn built on the work of psychotherapeutic genius of Milton Erickson, the Gestalt Therapist Fritz Perls and the philosophy of Wittgenstein.
It works with individuals in relationships or small groups (bottom-up). This is because change stems from the interactions – how people respond to each other and their context (outside-in).
It uses the so-called Miracle Question to tease out what changes you would notice if the problems you were concerned about just didn’t exist. What would you see, feel and hear? Envision and describe in detail how the future will be different when the problem is no longer present.
A Summary of the Solutions Focus Approach
Decide on a focus for action
Choose a desired outcome
Make the outcome the “target”
Make an “assessment” where things are now
Measure the gap on a scale from which progress can be measured
Get a clearer picture of what success would look and feel like
Identify what you and you team could do the contribute to the success
Identify what skills, support and resources would be needed
Identify and consider what can be done to help others help you/each other
List and coordinate the actions needed
Repeat 7 to 10
Assess progress towards the “target”